Gameday Bible: Cowboys-Seahawks NFC wild-card full primer

Gameday Bible: Cowboys-Seahawks NFC wild-card full primer

If you’re anything like me, you’re wearing your favorite Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt, getting amped up for the game on Saturday night, and scouring the web for any morsel of news you might have missed about America’s team. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: Getting ready for playoff football is a lot of work for serious fans.

Never fear, Cowboys Wire is here to help.

Here’s the latest news on the Cowboys, in case you missed it, starting with the playoffs, then player awards, and yet another head coach interview for the most popular coach in town.

Wild Card Game Preview

Confidence Rankings is borrowed from Mike and Mike, the now-defunct radio simulcast from years back. Points are awarded to a team based on how confident one should be in individual position groups and facets of the teams.

If Dallas’ quarterback situation inspires the most confidence compared to the rest of the NFC field of six, Dallas would get a ‘1’. The next team would get a ‘2’, next team a ‘3’ and so on through the field.

1. New Orleans Saints
Average Rank: 2.6

The Saints had four first-place finishes (QB, OL, DL, ST), far and away the most of any team. They also only had one last-place finish, and that was at tight end, probably the least important position in the study. Combined with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the history of No. 1 seeds making it out of the conference, the title is theirs to lose.

2. Los Angeles Rams
Average Rank: 3.1

The Rams only had one first-place finish (WR), but they were the only of the six teams without a single last-place finish. They don’t have any sort of home-field advantage though, with home dates normally split between theirs and opponent’s fans. Both Chicago and Dallas could conceivably win in L.A.

3. Dallas Cowboys
Average Rank: 3.3

The Cowboys are the only team other than the Saints with multiple first-place finishes (RB, LB). If it weren’t for their last-place finish in coaching, they could’ve caught or surpassed the Rams. Here though, everything is weighted evenly. In reality, the coaching impacts everything the other positions are doing, and the – according to this – third-best NFC team has the toughest opening round of all.

4. Seattle Seahawks
Average Rank: 3.7

The Seahawks have the best coach, and Carroll will have to work his magic to travel the furthest distances on a path back to the Super Bowl. They finished last in both trench categories (OL, DL) and that may be the biggest impetus to getting a win in the tournament.

5. Chicago Bears
Average Rank: 3.9

The Bears are clearly a team greater than the sum of their parts. Winners of 9 of 10, their fans would have every reason to be upset with these rankings. With three last-place finishes (QB, WR, ST) and only one first place (secondary) coach Matt Nagy will have his work cut out for him.

6. Philadelphia Eagles
Average Rank: 4.4

The Eagles, like the Bears, have three last-place rankings (RB, LB, DB), and their sole No. 1 ranking is at the least important position tight end, but they have a great shot of pulling off an upset.

Follow the link in the headline above for the position-by-position breakdowns.

For this late in the season, Dallas is remarkably healthy. One exception, starting left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo is listed as doubtful due to his ankle injury and LG Connor Williams is slated to start instead. Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin and Tyron Smith are all good to go after resting last week.

The Cowboys are a much different team compared to when they played the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 3 when two interceptions by Earl Thomas helped seal a 24-13 win for the Seahawks. Thomas suffered a season ending injury the very next week, so the offense won’t have to worry about him but they will have to worry about two other excellent defenders – 2018 All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner and DE Frank Clark.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is a challenge for any defense to contain but in this matchup, WR Tyler Lockett could be the X-factor. Lockett possesses phenomenal 4.40 speed which he’s used this season to put up 17 explosive pass plays of 20 yards or more, including the 52 yard touchdown he scored against the Cowboys in Week 3 this year.

It’s been well documented that Amari Cooper breathed life into the Cowboys passing game when he arrived and part of that is due to his skill in running a sluggo – a route that appears to be a slant but becomes a go route. Take a look at gif analysis of Cooper masterfully running these routes. Cooooooooooooop is ready to #FinishThisFight and the sluggo is the perfect way to feed him.

Madden 19 Sim: 2018 NFC Wild Card Round

For the first quarter and half of the second, the Seahawks had the Cowboys in a daze, jumping out to a 14-point lead. As the Boys were finally able to muster some steam, Dak Prescott led the offense down the field and connected with his buddy from Week 17, Blake Jarwin, to cut into the Seahawks’ lead, 14-7.

Unfortunately, this touchdown didn’t hinder the Seahawks as they added another touchdown followed by a Cowboys’ field goal. The sore was 21-10 heading into half time and Russell Wilson threw his third touchdown to increase the lead to 28-10. The Boys responded with a Dalton Schultz touchdown and this Elliott touchdown where he trucked the defender. The Cowboys went for two to narrow the Seahawks’ lead to 28-25.

No matter how many times the Cowboys score, the Seahawks didn’t stop or fault. Staring a 35-25 deficit with a few minutes left in the game, the offense made the most questionable call on third-and-15 in the redzone. They ran the ball with Elliott — who, lucky for the Boys, isn’t from this world and scored from 17 yards out, making the score 35-32.

After finally getting a stop at midfield, the Cowboys began to drive the field. If one thought Cole Beasley was clutch against the Giants, he follows it up with a big-time play this week. With eight seconds left on the clock, Prescott scrambled and found an open Beasley, who then squirmed his way into the endzone for the Cowboys’ first lead of the day at 39-35.

The Cowboys would go on to win the game 39-35, avoiding another heartbreak in the playoffs.

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